If that seems improbable after last week, look no further than his fiancé’s finger.

There’s a $7,000 engagement ring on it. It was free, thanks to Auburn’s offense.

Make that lack of offense. Alabama beat Auburn, 49-0, last Saturday, which normally would kick off a year of mourning for Tiger fans.

But about 300 people around Gardendale, Ala., feel like Powerball winners. They were smart enough to gamble on the Iron Bowl Shutout Special.

Anyone who bought an item at Jeff Dennis Jewelers from Nov. 16-23 would get their money refunded if Auburn or Alabama failed to score.

Thank you, Nick Saban.

“We literally put more than $50,000 back in customers’ pockets,” Dennis said. “That’s something no other jewelry store in America can say.”

That’s something no other business can probably say. Dennis may have stumbled upon the greatest marketing promotion since Victoria’s Secret discovered models.

Millions of consumers fancy themselves sports experts. Can you imagine a better way to get their attention and business? Especially in the state of Alabama, where every child is consecrated at birth to be a Tide or Tiger zealot?

Dennis is the oddball who cheers for both schools. He’d dabbled in offbeat marketing before, like refunding money if it snowed on Christmas.

He was sitting around a couple of weeks ago when the Iron Bowl crossed his mind. He didn’t want to take sides and alienate half his customer base.

In theory, the shutout proposition would be a neutral play. In reality, the Tigers were piling up points like a bad hockey team.

“I just looked at the year Auburn was having and thought, ‘You know what, there’s a real possibility this might happen,’” Dennis said.

Businesses typically get insurance when they risk merchandise in contests. Dennis contacted a couple of local brokers. The premiums quoted amounted to about 50 percent of the projected sales that week. That wasn't going to cut it.

“Everyone in Alabama knew how bad Auburn was,” Dennis said.

Luckily for him, Lloyd’s of London isn’t near Tuscaloosa. The insurance syndicate has been around since 1774. It is famous for insuring things like Jimmy Durante’s nose, Bruce Springsteen’s vocal chords and Tina Turner’s legs.

Head and Shoulders shampoo insured Troy Polamalu’s hair for $1 million a couple of years ago. Apparently that is the extent of Lloyd’s football knowledge. Either that, or the boys in the home office were all incorrigible Gene Chizik fans.

Dennis is not allowed to reveal what the premium was, but he said a similar policy is usually less than 10 percent of the projected sales. The paperwork was finalized too late for Dennis to advertise on the radio or in the paper. He just posted it on the store’s Facebook page.

“This was all driven by social media,” Dennis said.

Business almost tripled over the same period last year. And why wouldn’t it? It’s not as if customers had to return their merchandise if there wasn’t a shutout.

Iron Bowl historians know shutouts aren’t all that unusual. There’d been two since 2000. From 1959-62, Alabama shut out Auburn four straight times.

This year’s blowout was drama-free for most of the 101,821 at Bryant-Denny Stadium. For customers from Dennis Jewelers, it was must-see TV until Alabama got the ball with about a minute left.

You could hear the bling tinkling all over Gardendale.

“I couldn’t even keep up with the responses on the Facebook page,” Dennis said.

A few customers have been by this week to cash in. Many are waiting until Dec. 7, when Dennis is throwing an Iron Bowl refund party.

The entire promotion cost about $200, not counting the premium. Whatever he paid, Dennis said he has more than made up for it in sales and buzz.

“I can’t put a value on the advertising,” he said.

The whole thing was as risk-free for him as it was the customers. That’s why he’s already conjuring future sport-related promotions.

“You can buy insurance on anything,” Dennis said.

Free diamonds if Saban cracks a smile? Think of the potential across the entire business spectrum.

Apple could refund iPod purchases if the BCS championship game goes into triple overtime. Sears could refund refrigerator sales if Kobe Bryant takes fewer than 10 shots in a game.

Chevy might even move a few Volts off the lot if there were a Super Bowl tie-in.

If the marketing people are skeptical, they need to give Dennis a call. Or better yet, find the Auburn fan who bought that engagement ring.

“He’s not taking the loss too hard,” Dennis said.

Considering the shutout saved him seven grand, the guy will probably invite Saban to the wedding.